program

[ proh-gram, -gruhm ]

/ ˈproʊ græm, -grəm /

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See synonyms for: program / programing / programmed / programming on Thesaurus.com

noun

a plan of action to accomplish a specified end: a school lunch program.

a plan or schedule of activities, procedures, etc., to be followed.

a broadcasted television or radio production or similar internet-based content produced for distribution.

Also called com·put·er pro·gram .Digital Technology. a precise sequence of instructions enabling a computer to perform a task; a piece of software.

a collection of principles, actions, objectives, etc., established with a long-term goal in mind; platform; policy: A review of our education initiatives and programs suggests we are meeting our goals.

a list of items, pieces, performers, etc., in a musical, theatrical, or other entertainment.

an entertainment with reference to its pieces or numbers: a program of American and French music.

a planned, coordinated group of activities, procedures, etc., often for a specific purpose, or a facility offering such a series of activities: a drug rehabilitation program;a graduate program in linguistics.

a prospectus or syllabus: a program of courses being offered.

verb (used with object), pro·grammed or pro·gramed, pro·gram·ming or pro·gram·ing.

to schedule as part of a program.

Digital Technology. to write code for (a computer program or application).

to insert or encode specific operating instructions into (a machine or apparatus): We'll program the bells to ring at ten-minute intervals.

to insert (instructions) into a machine or apparatus: An automatic release has been programmed into the lock as a safety feature.

to cause to absorb or incorporate automatic responses, attitudes, or the like; condition: Our parents programmed us to respect our elders.

to set, regulate, or modify so as to produce a specific response or reaction: Program your eating habits to eliminate sweets.

verb (used without object), pro·grammed or pro·gramed, pro·gram·ming or pro·gram·ing.

to plan or write a program.

Digital Technology. to write computer code.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Also especially British, pro·gramme .

Origin of program

First recorded in 1625–35; from Late Latin programma, from Greek prógramma “public notice in writing”; see pro-², -gram¹

OTHER WORDS FROM program

re·pro·gram, verb (used with object), re·pro·grammed or re·pro·gramed, re·pro·gram·ming or re·pro·gram·ing.un·pro·grammed, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH program

pogrom, program

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use program in a sentence

And that means they also fall under the umbrella of programs most likely to get the axe when state and federal budgets are tight.
How to Solve the Policing Crisis|Keli Goff|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The Eighty-ninth Congress was potentially more fertile ground for the broad range of controversial programs on his dream agenda.
Thank Congress, Not LBJ for Great Society|Julian Zelizer, Scott Porch|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The former provides entrepreneurial training and educational programs for youths from low-income urban areas around the world.
Streetwear pioneer, visionary entrepreneur, and community mentor Daymond John is honored with Hennessy Privilege Award|Hennessy|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It treats touchscreens and TV programs as just one more way to introduce toddlers to animals, colors, and other concepts.
Yes, Your Toddler Can Watch TV: The New Rules for Screen Time|Russell Saunders|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Direct funds away from practices, policies, and programs that consistently fail to achieve measurable outcomes.
Can the U.S. Government Go Moneyball?|Peter Orszag, Jim Nussle|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The programs are made up by professionals and students of the Hostel who are studying music.
Ways of War and Peace|Delia Austrian
These wild teledepth programs they look at give them all kinds of ideas.
The Stutterer|R.R. Merliss
Moreover the definition of their aims and policies into exact and comprehensive programs is generally slowly achieved.
Introduction to the Science of Sociology|Robert E. Park
In preparing programs have brief readings on each island, either from history or English poetry, or translations from the Greek.
The Complete Club Book for Women|Caroline French Benton
It has astonishingly clever programs, prepared with few library helps.
The Complete Club Book for Women|Caroline French Benton

British Dictionary definitions for program

program

sometimes programme

/ (ˈprəʊɡræm) /

noun

a sequence of coded instructions fed into a computer, enabling it to perform specified logical and arithmetical operations on data

verb -grams, -gramming, -grammed, -grammes, -gramming or -grammed

(tr) to feed a program into (a computer)

(tr) to arrange (data) into a suitable form so that it can be processed by a computer

(intr) to write a program

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for program

program

[ prō′grăm′ ]

A organized system of instructions and data interpreted by a computer. Programming instructions are often referred to as code. See more at source code. See also programming language.

Cultural definitions for program

program

A series of instructions given to a computer to direct it to carry out certain operations. The term code is often used to denote large-scale operations.

program

Origin of program

OTHER WORDS FROM program

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH program

Words related to program

How to use program in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for program

sometimes programme

Scientific definitions for program

Cultural definitions for program